What is GMO?
Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms, whose genetic material is modified by techniques of genetic engineering. Those techniques are well known as recombinant DNA technology. Using this technology, DNA molecules from different sources are combines in vitro into one molecule, for creating a new gene which after that transfers in an organism and gives it new properties – for an example potatoes which can produce poison against potato beetles. Genetic Engineering allows single genes to be selected, which can be transferred from one organism to another, both between similar and distant species.
Successful experiments of genetic modifications were made back in the 70s of last century, but GM foods for commercial purposes were firstly produced since 1996 in U.S. Despite the fact that there weren’t enough tests and analysis of the effect GMO foods have on human health and the environment, corporations dealing with genetic engineering are aggressively promoting their products tempting them with promises of higher yields, less utilization of pesticides and high resistance of the cultures. So until 1999 in U.S, 33% of areas sown with corn, 44% with soy and 55% with cotton are already GM.
Types of GM crops
“The first generation” GM crops carry characteristics such as resistance to certain herbicides or pests. These are mainly soy, cotton, oilseed rape, corn. The purpose is facilitating the management of weeds and pests. “The second generation” GM crops aim higher yields, improving quality and nutritional value, higher levels of essential fatty acids and vitamins, removal of allergens and so on.
How to avoid GMO Food – A Greenpeace Shoppers Guide
Correction and Follow up: In the list “Heinz” is stated as GMO, but they claim now that are Non-GMO, so ignore Heinz from the list!
| FROZEN FOODS | SALAD DRESSINGS AND OILS | SNACK FOODS | SOUPS |
GREEN GIANT (General Mills) | BESTFOODS (Unilever) | UGLES (General Mills) | CAMPBELL SOUP CO. |
| J.M. SCHNEIDER | CANOLA HARVEST (Canbra Foods) | JIFFY POP (ConAgra | KNORR (Unilever) |
| KRAFT | CRISCO (Proctor & Gamble) | HOSTESS/FRITO-LAY* (Pepsi) | LIPTON (Unilever) |
LEAN CUISINE (Nestlé) | KRAFT (Philip Morris) | HUMPTY DUMPTY | PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) |
| MAPLE LEAF | PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) | KELLOGG’S | PRIMO (Kraft/Philip Morris) |
| McCAIN | WESSON (ConAgra) | KRAFT (Philip Morris) | WESTERN FAMILY FOODS (Overwaitea) |
NO NAME (Loblaws/Weston) | WESTERN FAMILY FOODS (Overwaitea) | NABISCO (Kraft) | |
PILLSBURY (General Mills) | OLD EL PASO (GENERAL MILLS) | ||
PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) | ORVILLE REDENBACHER (ConAgra) | ||
| SMITHFIELD FOODS | PRINGLES (Proctor & Gamble) | ||
STOUFFER’S (Nestlé) | SAFEWAY |
| CANNED AND JARRED FOODS | CONDIMENTS | COOKIES AND DESSERTS | DRIED MEALS AND SAUCE MIXES |
| CONAGRA | CONAGRA | CAMPBELL SOUP CO. | BETTY CROCKER (General Mills) |
EFFEM (Mars) | GFA FOODS | DARE FOODS | EFFEM (Mars) |
| FLOWER INDUSTRIES | KRAFT (Philip Morris) | ||
KRAFT (Philip Morris) | HUNT’S (ConAgra) | HAAGEN-DAZS (General Mills) | NO NAME (Loblaws/Weston) |
NO NAME (Loblaws/Weston) | KIKKOMAN FOODS | KRAFT (Philip Morris) | OLD EL PASO (General Mills) |
OLD EL PASO (General Mills) | KRAFT (Philip Morris) | LOBLAWS/WESTON | PILLSBURY (General Mills) |
PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) | McCAIN | PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) | |
LUCERNE FOODS (Safeway) | NO NAME (Loblaws/Weston) | QUAKER OATS (Pepsi) | |
| McCORMICK’S | PILLSBURY (General Mills) | ||
NO NAME (Loblaws/Weston) | PRESIDENT’S CHOICE (Loblaws/Weston) | ||
PILLSBURY (General Mills) | QUAKER OATS (Pepsi) | ||
WESTERN FAMILY FOODS (Overwaitea) | SAFEWAY | ||
BESTFOODS (Unilever) | VACHON (Saputo) | ||
BETTY CROCKER (General Mills) | VOORTMAN COOKIES |
| Baking Supplies | Beverages | Candy and Chocolate | Cereals and Breakfast Foods |
| Betty Crocker | Cadbury Schweppes | CADBURY TREBOR ALLEN | CARRIAGE TRADE (Continental Sales) |
| Canbra Foods | Coca Cola | DARE FOODS | GENERAL MILLS |
| Crisco | Gatorade | EFFEM(Mars) | KELLOGG’S |
| Duncan Hines | Hershey’s | HERSHEY’S | KRAFT (Philip Morris) |
| Hershey’s | Kraft | KRAFT(Philip Morris) | PRESIDENT’S CHOICE |
| Kraft | Labatt | QUAKER OATS (Pepsi) | |
| Pillsbury | Molson | SAFEWAY | |
| President’s Choice | Pepsi | WEETABIX | |
| Quaker Oats | President’s Choice | WHEATIES (General Mills) | |
| Robin Hood | Proctor & Gamble | ||
| Unilever | Sleeman | ||
| Western Family Foods | |||
The list is bigger than this, so i advise you to download the whole PDF guide here: How To Avoid GMO Food: A Greenpeace Shopping Guide
Sources:
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://http://www.greenpeace.ca
Author: Tsvetan Petrov, owner of “Get Holistic Health” blog